Each year in September, volunteers gather on beaches around the world to clean up trash and debris that threaten the health of our oceans, coastlines, beach-goers, and wildlife. The International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), created by the Ocean Conservancy, is now in its 31st year and boasts participation in over 37 U.S. states and 93 countries around the world. This year Save the Sound, the Connecticut coordinator for the ICC, has been working hard with Cleanup Captains to organize over 70 cleanups up and down the shoreline.
September 17 is International Coastal Cleanup Day, but we’re hosting cleanups throughout September and October – and you’re invited to help!
Check out our calendar below to find a Save the Sound Coastal Cleanup at your favorite Connecticut beach, then head to our registration page to sign up. The list below has all the details, including how to contact your Cleanup Captain to find out when and where to meet your cleanup team.
Last year, Save the Sound organized 58 cleanups with 1,512 volunteers who removed 6,517 pounds of trash across 45 miles of waterfront. We’re excited to see how much trash we can remove together this year!
Remember to share your photos with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by tagging them #CTcleanup and @SavetheSound.
Questions? Email Chris Cryder at ccryder@savethesound.org for more information.
Save the Sound is grateful for the support of Ammex and Bank of America in making our Coastal Cleanup program possible.
Past Cleanups – Thank you for your hard work!
Saturday, September 10, 2016
East Haven at 9:00am-10:00am –East Haven Town Beach Cleanup– Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup with Clean UP East Haven in East Haven, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain George Smith at (203) 812-8658 or cleanupeasthaven@gmail.com to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Norwalk at 9:30am-3:00pm – Oyster Shell Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup with the Norwalk River Watershed Association in Norwalk, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Louise Washer at (877) 679-2463 or info@norwalkriver.org to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Branford at 9:00 am-12:00pm – Branford Point Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with Yale Environmental Health Sciences and the East Shore District Health Department for a beach cleanup in Branford, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captains Damaris Faustine damaris.faustine@yale.edu and Brianna Weller bweller@esdhd.org to let them know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Branford at 10:00am-12:00pm – Branford/East Haven Farm River Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a river and marsh cleanup via kayak or boat. Please bring your own boat if possible. Contact Clarice Begeman (203) 988-6484 to receive meeting location information.
Bridgeport at 9:00am-1:00pm – Black Rock/Saint Mary’s by the Sea Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in Bridgeport, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Roger Ludwig at (203) 247-0117 or spludwig@optonline.net to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
East Lyme at 11:00am-12:00pm – Cini Park/Hole-in-the-Wall Beach/McCook’s Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the East Lyme High School for a beach cleanup in East Lyme, CT. Please contact Chris Cryder of Save the Sound at 203-787-064 x 127 or ccryder@savethesound.org to sign-up and receive meeting location information.
Groton at 10:00am-2:00pm – Bluff Point State Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the Mystic Aquarium for a beach cleanup in Groton, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain MaryEllen Mateleska at 860-572-5955 ext. 156 or educationinfo@mysticaquarium.org to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Madison at 9:00am-12:00pm – Hammonassett State Park/East Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in Madison, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Thomas Paul at (203) 421-5612 or cthomaspaul@sbcglobal.net to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Madison at 9:00am-11:00am – Hammonassett State Park/West Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the Friends of Hammonassett for a beach cleanup in Madison, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Sallie Sperling at (203) 887-8225 or goldspurs@comcast.net to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
New Haven at 10:00am-2:00pm – Long Wharf Nature Preserve Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the New Haven Land Trust for a beach cleanup in New Haven, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Justin Eliker at (203) 562-6655 or info@newhavenlandtrust.org to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
New London at 9:45am-12:15pm – Green Harbor Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the Three Rivers Community College for a beach cleanup in New London, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Bill Dopirak at (860) 215-9424 or wdopirak@trcc.commnent.edu to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
New London at 10:00am-12:00pm – Mitchell Beach at Mitchell College – Join Save the Sound with the students of Mitchell College for a beach cleanup in New London, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captains Jessica O’Connor or Kimberly Blake at Jessica.oconnor@my.mitchell.edu and blake_k@mitchell.edu to let them know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
New London at 10:30am-12:00pm – Ocean Beach Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the Cedar Island Marina Research Lab for a beach cleanup in New London, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Louise Fabrykiewicz at 860-444-8916 or lowf@juno.com to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Niantic at 9:00am-2:00pm – Rocky Neck State Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in Niantic, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Michaela Considine at (860) 230-8510 to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Norwalk at 10:00am-2:00pm – Norwalk Island Kayak Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a kayak cleanup of Chimmon or Shea Islands off of Norwalk, CT. You must be an experienced paddler and able to bring your own kayak. Please contact Chris Cryder of Save the Sound at 203-787-064 x 127 or ccryder@savethesound.org to sign-up and receive meeting location information.
Norwalk at 9:00am-1:00pm – Sono Harbor Waterfront Overlook Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in Norwalk, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captains Zoe Merriman and Lisa Cooper-Merriman at (203) 820-1444 or zmerriman17@lauraltonhall.org and lcoopermerriman@yahoo.com to let them know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Old Lyme at 9:00am – White Sands Beach Cleanup – Join Saint Ann’s Church for a beach cleanup in Old Lyme, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Kendall Perkins at (860) 391-5593 to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
West Haven at 8:00am-12:00pm – South Street Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in West Haven, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Meg Barnes at (203) 933-0237 or barnesm@comcast.net to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
West Haven at 9:00am-12:00pm – West Haven Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup from Sandy Point to Peck Beach in West Haven, CT. Please contact Chris Cryder of Save the Sound at 203-787-064 x 127 or ccryder@savethesound.org to sign-up and receive meeting location information
West Haven at 10:00am-11:00am – Oak Street Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a beach cleanup in West Haven, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Willow Sirch at wsirch@ctenvironment.org to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Westbrook at 10:00am-2:00pm – West Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the Westbrook Land Conservation Trust for a beach cleanup in Westbrook, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Kate Gilstad-Hayden at westbrooklct@yahoo.com to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Milford at 4:00pm-5:00pm – Gulf Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and Boy Scout Troop 303 for a beach cleanup in Milford, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Dee McLenithan at (203) 561-0297 or jmclenithan@sbcglobal.net to let her know that you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
New London at 9:00am-12:00pm – New London Dive Cleanup – Join Save the Sound with the SECONN Divers for an underwater dive cleanup at City Pier in New London, CT. Experienced volunteer divers as well as onshore volunteers are needed. Please contact Cleanup Captain Ryan Patrylak at (860) 428-7671 or ryanpatrylak@gmail.com (prefers email) to let him know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Madison at 10:00am-12:00pm – Madison Surf Club Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and the Madison Beach and Recreation Department for a beach cleanup in Madison, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Julie Ainsworth at (203) 245-5623 or julieainsworth@live.com to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Stamford at 12:00pm-4pm – Southfield Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and Soundwaters for a beach cleanup in Stamford, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Hilary Starks at (203) 406-3314 or hstarks@soundwaters.org to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Fairfield at 10:00am – Perry’s Mill Pond Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a cleanup in Fairfield, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain CJ Kwon at saracjoliver@yahoo.com to let him know that you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Fairfield at 10:00am-12:00pm – South Pine Creek Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and the Pine Creek Association for a beach cleanup in Fairfield, CT. Please contact both Cleanup Captains Conor Ginley and Mike Ginley at conorginley12@gmail.com and mginley@nextlevel-co.com or call at (203) 810-7668 (email preferred) to let them know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Westport at 1:00pm-3:00pm – Saugatuck River Area Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and the Saugatuck Congregational Church Youth Group for a beach cleanup in Westport, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Stephanie Martenson at (203) 434-4136 or fmartenson@gmail.com to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Sunday, October 2, 2016
Clinton at 9:00am-11:00am – Clinton Town Beach & Cedar Island Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and the Clinton Land Conservation Trust for a cleanup in Clinton, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Kim Flanagan at genekimflan@sbcglobal.net to let her know you would like to attend and receive meeting location information.
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Greenwich at 8:00am-12:00pm – Greenwich Point Park and Byram Beach cleanups – Join Greenwich Green and Clean for a cleanup in Greenwich, CT. Please contact Cleanup Captain Mary Hull at mary@greenwichgreenandclean.org or call 203-531-0006 to join the cleanup and receive meeting location information.
Stamford at 9:00am-11:00am – Cummings Beach Cleanup – Join Save the Sound for a cleanup in Stamford, CT. Please contact Chris Cryder of Save the Sound at 203-787-064 x 127 or ccryder@savethesound.org to sign-up and receive meeting location information.
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Westport at 2:00pm – 4:00pm – Sherwood Island State Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and Greens Farms Academy for a cleanup in Westport, CT. Please contact Chris Cryder of Save the Sound at 203-787-0646 x 127 or ccryder@savethesound.org to sign up and receive meeting location information.
Stamford at 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. – Cove Island Beach and Park Cleanup – Join Save the Sound and Sound Waters for a beach cleanup in Stamford, CT. Please contact Hilary Starks at hstarks@soundwaters.org to sign up and receive additional information.
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